our national political correspondent jim acosta is traveling with him. jim? >> reporter: wolf, it is a pre-debateaditio managing expectation just in case their candidate has an off night wednesday and both sides have another thing in common. they think media might be pulling for the other guy. >> governor, are you ready? >> ready for the debate? >> yes. i'm there. >> reporter: after a weekend of debate preparations, mitt romney was careful to avoid questions about his first matchup with president obama. but on a conference call with reporters, a top adviser revealed there's one subject romney is ready for. >> not to worry -- >> reporter: the comments that were caught on tape on the 47% of voters he said were dependent on government. >> we wouldn't be surprised, obviously, if that came up at the debate, and the governor's prepared obviously to respond to that. >> reporter: after lowering expectations for days, the romney campaign sent new jersey governor chris christie out on the sunday talk show circuit where he made a surprising prediction. the gop nominee w